§ Mr. J. GUESTasked the Secretary for Mines the amount of profit derived by the owners from the operations of the coal-mining industry as a whole, with the profit per ton of output for the year 1913; and if he can give the amount of profit derived by the owners of the eastern division, with the profit per ton of output for the year 1924?
§ Colonel LANE-FOXThe total profits of the coal-mining industry for the country as a whole in 1913 are estimated at £21,000,000, representing 1s. 5½d. per ton of coal raised. The total profits for the eastern division in 1924 are estimated at £9,000,000, approximately representing 1s. 11½d. per ton of coal raised. These figures represent profits before deduction of such items as loan interest and taxation.